Reality star Colton Underwood wants everyone to know that he’s not gay. Seriously, guys. Nothing against gay people. He’s just not one of them.

Underwood, best known for his appearance on The Bachelor, made the declaration while speaking to the Reality Steve podcast this week.

“I’m not gay,” he said.

OK. Now, for the backstory

Earlier this year, the 28-year-old opened up about the struggles he faced as a teenager and young adult with understanding his sexuality.

“I was a little heavy, and that, combined with being socially awkward, led to a really hard time,” he told People magazine in March. “I didn’t believe in myself. And I was super insecure.”

Related: 8 male celebs who had to come out as straight after everyone thought they were gay or bi

In high school, his classmates began bullying him by telling him he was gay.

“It was one of those things where you hear something so often, you start believing it,” Underwood says. “I thought, maybe I am gay. … I didn’t know who I was.”

But, as he got older, he came to realize that nope, he’s not gay, his classmates were wrong.

After sharing that story, Underwood says it set off a wave of confusing headlines, internet rumors, and general misinformation.

Speaking to Reality Steve this week, he now says, “But the bottom line is I’m not gay. I have love and support for anybody in the LGBT+ community and support that, and love is love, at the end of the day.”

As for having to continually come out as straight, Underwood explains, “I’m sort of used to it at this point, but I don’t think I’m ever going to give a good enough answer. I’m always going to almost feel like I’m on defense probably for a very long time.”

No need to explain it to us. We get it.

Now, let’s take a gander at his Instagram page, shall we?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ufYhInOyO/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaKk69HuxS/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDknfsNHN5R/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDxjkuLnG8j/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4eeOVnWY1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBn4fT6HTQZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ZEqNEHowj/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCR-dg9n5O7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Z9x8Rn8Jf/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCpX7RvHPFh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ZLuRbnK8E/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Og4EjHqRi/

Related: Reality star Colton Underwood opens up about his struggles with his sexuality

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